4001s vs The Hofner

[ch willie]

It's no surprise that I prefer Paul's Ric to any other bass he used. And yet, because I'm such a Freak, I want a Hofner, just to cover the BASSes.

It'll be years before I can buy one. I'm thinking of one of the cheaper Hofner Icon / Ignition basses.


How many of you prefer Macca's Ric to his Hofner? I do, but I'll bet there are some Ric enthusiasts who prefer the violin bass.

[Colonel Sanders]

Hofner basses leave me absolutely cold.

Don't like the way these play. Hate the look...

So put me in the 4001S camp.

[Medicus1963]

Hi,
I have the Höfner Contemporary and I played the Ignition Bass in the shop too. These are worlds !! The Contemporary is that much better !! So if you dont have the bucks for the german made Höfner, try the contemporary bass and leave the Ignition to where it belongs, in the rocketscience !
Just my two cents.

Peter

[wings012345]

I have both. I have a 78 Beatles bass. Very different basses of course. But i do love the hofner. I like recording with it. People love it when i bring it to gigs. And they look cool together side by side.

[cjj]

Hofner basses leave me absolutely cold.

Don't like the way these play. Hate the look...

So put me in the 4001S camp.

I have to agree 100% even though I've never played one. Can't stand the look enough to even want to try one...

[Happyface]

How about the Club bass instead? Better looking, in my humble opinion.

[lucky]

I liked both though the look of the Rickenbacker on the Wings over America video . Though I do own an original 1964 Hofner Violin bass & a 1992 Ric 4003, the Ric is my main bass.

[michael.m]

I have both Hofner and 4001c64. I play Hofner more. I love them equally, but for people Hofner is Beatle bass, they want to see it. I played Paperback writer with 4001c64 and some folks asked me why. So these days I take only my Hofner to shows. I bought Hofner Contemporary year ago, it is cheaper than German one so I am not so worry about it at concerts.
I think Hofner and Rickenbacker are both great, but very different basses. If you want a Hofner buy Contemporary, it is great and not so expensive, I like it more than Icon.

[Lefty4003S8]

NOT into Hofners!!!!!!!!! Honestly, I just don't understand WHY Paul played one for as long as he did.
I CAN speak from experience...having owned a couple.

Now, Rickenbackers??????? OH BABY!!!!!!!!! I am a fan for life!!!!!!!!!!

[jps]

NOT into Hofners!!!!!!!!!...I CAN speak from experience...having owned a couple.

Have you ever played them?

[Lefty4003S8]

NOT into Hofners!!!!!!!!!...I CAN speak from experience...having owned a couple.

Have you ever played them?

Why...YES I have!!! I CERTAINLY haven't used them as hat-racks!!!

[jps]

I really liked the V63 I had, which is now in the capably hands of Evan Jones. So much fun to play that it kept me from my Ricks, so I had to sell it!

[Keef]

I have a Hofner Club Bass and a v63 in mapleglo. Both Paul inspired purchases. I record a fair amount and people LOVE the Hofner. I tend to favor the Ric though
I love the tone of the Hofner, but didn't want the 'stigma' of a Beatle bass, so I got the Club Bass. Hofner's are weird basses for sure... the lightness is something that took some getting used to, but I love it. When I first got it I was stunned by how much that instrument affects how you play, and I felt history would be very different if Paul didn't have the Hofner.

[antipodean]

I really liked the V63 I had, which is now in the capably hands of Evan Jones. So much fun to play that it kept me from my Ricks, so I had to sell it!

Jeff's old Hofner is an absolute gem. My (very part-time) main gig is playing swing and a little R&B and the Hofner is perfect for the task in hand (as well as being very kind to the old spine). If I'm playing outdoors in the hot Aussie sun I'll whip out my battered 4000. I have this (irrational?) fear that a dose of extreme heat will lead to the little Hofner falling apart. The 4000 is indestructible.

[cassius987]

I used to kind of think of Hofners as a joke. But my dad's faker eventually grew on me because there's nothing else that sounds like these basses--a nice round thump and not much else. It seems like a one-trick pony but a really great trick. Except that I did once hear Chris Wood play some pretty crazy funk on one as well; it was not a growler like his P Bass but there was a certain charm to it.